On April 24, eight students from Warsaw Community High School represented the school at the State Envirothon competition held at Purdue University’s Beck Agricultural Center.
The Envirothon promotes environmental education among high school students through academic competition. The goal is to foster a deeper understanding of the natural environment and encourage stewardship of natural resources. Teams compete by answering questions in five categories: soils and land use, aquatic ecology, wildlife, forestry and a current issue, which this year is renewable energy for a sustainable future. The competition includes both a written exam and hands-on field tests. At the state level, teams also prepare an oral presentation offering solutions to an environmental problem related to the current issue, according to news release from Warsaw Community Schools.
The team comprised of Natalie Boley, Evan Hand and Griffin Roe had a good showing despite being limited to three members, competing against other teams of five, stated the release. They proposed expanding solar panels within WCS, including at WCHS, impressing the judges with their “very nice presentation” and teamwork.
The second team, consisting of Caleb Aukeman, Sydney Clark, Titiksha Gorhe, Bronwyn Harrison and Elizabeth Osborn entered the state competition after winning the Northeast regionals. With the support of alternate Kevin Gough, they excelled at the state level. Their oral presentation, which proposed creating a Green Energy Park in Warsaw, scored 99/100. Judges praised their project as “usable and relevant …could be implemented tomorrow” and noted their “great attention to detail.”
As state champions, they are now eligible to represent Indiana at the NCF Envirothon Competition in Geneva, N.Y., this summer.